Folding car-step.



G. J WAGNER.

FOLDING OAR STEP.

uruouzon nun JULY no, 1900.

908,052. Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

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GEORGE .T. WAGNER, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHRISTIAN L. EARTH, OF MARION, INDIANA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car-Steps, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. a

This invention relates to improvements in folding car ste s.

The object of t e invention is to provide ste s of this character adapted to be opened anc closed to operative and ino erative ositions, and Which, when in a c osed or olded position, will effectually prevent getting on or off the car.

A further object is to provide means whereby the steps may be readily shifted to an open or closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a car and platform, showing the application of the invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a side view of the platform and steps, parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on a line 3-3 of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a similar view with the steps in closed position; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a detail lan view of a fragment of the platform sfiowing the operating shaft in section and the arrangement of the locking gear and pawl connected thereto.

Referring more particularl to the drawings, 1 denotes the car plat orm, to which are secured the side pieces, 2, of the steps, said side pieces having arranged on their inner surfaces a series of horizontally disposed s aced cleats, 3, which are adapted to slida ly support the steps, 4.

The cleats, 3, are engaged by the recessed ends of the risers, 5, of each of the steps, and in the up er ed es of each of the cleats, 3, is forme a ongitudinally disposed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1908.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908. Serial No. 444,369.

j groove, 6, which forms a ball-race, in which anti-frictional bearing balls, 7, are adapted l to travel, said. balls being held in recesses, 8, lformed in the overlapping upper portions l of the recessed ends of the risers. j In the ends of all but the upper step are j formed recesses, 9, with which are enaged downwardly projecting guide lugs, 10, formed 011 the adjacent lower edges of the risers, said lower edges of the risers being slidably enga ed with the upper surface of each next Tower step. On the ends of the intermediate step are formed longitudinally projecting guide lugs, 12, which are adapted to engage guide grooves or channels, 13, formed in the adjacent walls of the side pieces, 2, of the steps.

On the under side of the upper step adjacent to the inner surface of the side pieces, 2, are secured rack bars, 14, which are engaged by operating pinions, l5, fixedly mounted on a transversely disposed shaft, 16, which is journaled in the side pieces, 2, of the steps. One end of the shaft, 16, projects through one of the side pieces, 2, and on the projecting end of the shaft, 16, is fixed a bevel gear, 18, which is operatively engaged with a similar gear, 19, mounted on the lower end of an operating shaft, 20, which is journaled in a suitable bearing on the bracket, 1'7, and projects upwardly through the platform, 1, and is provided on its upper end with a crank handle, 21, by means of which the 'ears, 18 and 19, are operated to revolve the s aft, 16, which movement is imparted through the pinions, 15, to the rack bars, 14, to move the upper step inwardly or outwardly to an open or closed position. The movement of the upper step is imparted to the next lower step by means of the lugs, 10, on the riser of said upper step, which engage the recesses, 9, in the ends of said next lower step, thus causing said step to be moved inwardly and outwardly to an 0 on or closed position with the upper step. 11 the shaft, 20, adjacent to the upper side of the platform, 1, is secured a ratchet Wheel, 22, which is adapted to be engaged by a foot-operated pawl, 23, pivotally mounted on the platform.

On the outer ed es of the side pieces, 2, and over the ends ofthe cleats, 3, are secured finishing stri s, 24, the outer surfaces of which may, desired, be ornamented in an suitable manner. The edges of each of the steps and the outer surface of the risers,

may, if desired, be provided with any suitable ornamentation.

The lowermost step and the riser between the upper step and the latform are immovable and rigidly secured to the side ieces of the steps. The uppermost step is s lifted to an open and closed position by means of the gearing herein described, and the steps between the upper step and the lowermost step are connected to each other in the manner described and are operated by the movement of the upper step which is imparted to each successive lower step by the connections described.

The steps are primarily intended for use on steam railway cars, but it is obvious that they may also be advantageously employed in connection with street railway cars, and by means of the operating mechanism herein shown and described, the steps may be uickly and easily moved to an open and c osed position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. The combination with a car latform, of side ieces secured thereto, guide cleats arranged on the inner sides of said side pieces, a series of steps having a sliding engagement with said cleats, an operating gearing connected with the up ermost step whereby the latter is retracte and projected, and means on said upper ste :to engage the next lower step to move the atter to an operative and inoperative position.

2. The combination with a car platform, of side pieces secured thereto, guiding and supportin cleats secured to the inner surface of said si e pieces, a series of steps having risers provided with recessed ends adapted to engage said cleats, an anti-frictional bearing between said risers and cleats, means operated from the platform of a car to move the upper step to an open or closed position, and means to connect said upper step to the next lower step whereby the latter is moved to an open and closed position by said upper step.

3. The combination with a car platform, of side ieces secured thereto, a series of ste s sli ably engaged with said side pieces an adapted to be moved to an open or closed position, rack bars secured to the upper step, an operating shaft geared to said lugs, means whereby said shaft is operated from the platform of the car to move the upper step to an open or closed position, and means whereby t i e next lower steps are operated by said upper step.

4. The combination with a car platform, of side pieces secured thereto, a series of steps slidably engaged with said side pieces, rack bars secured to the rear end of the uppermost step, an operating shaft geared to said rack bars, a crank shaft geared to said operating shaft and projecting upwardly above said platform, a crank handle on said shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft, and a ooking lpawl adapted to be engaged with said rate et wheel.

5. The combination with a car platform, of side pieces secured thereto, aseries of ste s slidably engaged with said side pieces, t e lower steps of said series having recessed ends, connecting lugs arranged on the risers of each step to engage the recessed ends of the next lower step, whereby said steps are operatively connected together, and means to retract and project the 11 per step from :the platform of the car and tfiroug la the connection between said step and the lower steps {to retract and project said lower step when the upper step is operated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence -of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE .J. WAGNER. Witnesses J FUDGE, F. H. WHITooMB. 

